For the third time in less than a month I have seen upwards of 700 American Coots in a long straggly flock at the south end of Lake Simcoe. The first time was reported by Ron Fleming on November 13. I saw the large flock again on November 27 and their identity was confirmed by a duck hunter returning to the boat launch at Walter Street and Lake Drive S. in Keswick. I did a rough count of the flock again today and estimated 700 again. Keep in mind that the duck hunt is in full swing and the sound of shotgun blasts can be heard here. Ducks, geese and swans are staying close to the eastern shore of the lake, but I doubt many hunters want to eat an old coot. I did attempt to photograph the assembly. There are many, small private parks along lake drive allowing viewing access to the lake, but parking is sometimes tricky. At Glenwood Beach Park I had reasonable looks at a large mixed flock of waterfowl that I estimate held 1000 Common Goldeneye and 1000 Lesser Scaup. There were about 10 Hooded Mergansers, 100 Redheads and at least one pair of Canvasbacks. Closer to shore were Mallards and Canada Geese. The park is on Lake Dr. a little south of Glenwoods Dr. There is another parkette at Parkway and Lake Dr. and similar groups of birds were seen there. To get to the last spot I visited one has to go north on Leslie St. to the fork where one goes west along Metro Road S and travel past The Corner House Restaurant to Shorecrest Rd and turn left to Lake Drive. There were two groups of Tundra Swans near shore with several cygnets in company. There were also lots of the other ducks mentioned. At that point I also hada another 1000 Common Goldeneye further from shore as well as whirling and diving Bonaparte's Gulls. I did check the Ravenshoe Flats area for Snowy Owl without success, but did have two Northern Harriers and a Rough-legged Hawk. Kevin Shackleton _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
